The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) — labeled a terrorist organization by the United States, Turkey and others — has just declared itself dissolved. This is a historic turning point after almost 50 years of discord with Turkey. The deadly militant separatist group has declared an end to its cease-fire. Media outlets heavily linked to the militants, including the Firat News Agency, were first to report on it. Abdullah Ocalan, pictured above, founded the PKK in 1978 with a core goal. The group’s overall political goal is increased autonomy for the Kurdish people in Turkey and wants to create a semi autonomous Kurdish state in the south east.
The PKK announced an unconditional, unilateral ceasefire in March. This joint announcement made way for the momentous decision to dissolve. Leader Abdullah Ocalan, imprisoned since 1999, has been instrumental in providing ideological direction for the group from prison. In his PKK-related communications more recently, he has called on PKK fighters to disarm. Like other steps to advance peace and reconciliation, this move is long overdue.
The PKK’s internal decision-making body, known as the 12th Congress, has formally decided to “dissolve the organizational structure of the PKK and to end the armed struggle method.” Perhaps most importantly, the declaration stressed that Ocalan himself will oversee this “practical process” of dissolution. This is a monumental step back from the brink of armed conflict.
For nearly five decades, the PKK’s insurgency has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, deeply affecting Turkey’s socio-political landscape. The group’s ambition to establish an independent Kurdish state has sparked a decades-long and bloody insurgency towards the Turkish state. The conflict has garnered a lot of international attention, provoking an outpouring of condemnation. This is primarily because of acute human rights violations and its catastrophic effect on civilian communities.
In the wake of this announcement, supporters of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party went out into the streets. At each of these events they waved giant flags with portraits of Ocalan. Now, all sides are digging in to extend this moment of armed hostilities. It raises questions more broadly about the future of the Kurdish people’s relationship with the Turkish state.
“The practical process of dissolution will be managed by Abdullah Ocalan and has ended the work carried out under the name of the PKK.” – PKK via Firat News Agency
The end of the PKK sounds the death knell for an era in Turkey. Such a change would deeply transform political dynamics and provide a critical impetus for a new chapter of engagement and reconciliation between the Turkish state and its Kurdish people. Despite engendering a cautious outlook, observers are nonetheless hopeful as they track developments after this momentous announcement.
